Register Your Iowa Foreign Corporation
A foreign corporation is a corporation that does business both in the state it was originally formed in and another state. You must file an Iowa Foreign Profit Corporation Registration Statement ($100) with the Iowa Secretary of Iowa, Business Services Division to become an Iowa foreign corporation. You can submit this document by mail, online, fax, or in person.
Our guide goes through the steps you need to take to register your out-of-state corporation in Iowa. You can also skip the work and hire us to do it for you.
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GET STARTEDHow to Register as a Foreign Corporation in Iowa
This process of registering your out-of-state corporation is called foreign qualification. Foreign qualification isn’t about going overseas but about expanding your business into a new state without filing new formation paperwork.
You won’t be forming a new Iowa business by foreign qualifying your corporation. You’ll be registering your already existing company with the Iowa Secretary of State, so you can transact business within the state’s borders.
Here’s everything you need to do to conduct business as a foreign corporation in Iowa.
1. Name Your Iowa Corporation
Your corporation’s name will need to be available in Iowa and distinguishable from other Iowa businesses. To check to see if your business’s name is available in Iowa, conduct a free business name search. If your company’s name is not available for use, you can file to use an Iowa DBA or use an alternate name.
Concerned your business name won’t be available for future foreign registrations? Consider applying for a federal trademark for your business name to ensure it’s available in all fifty states.
2. Designate a Registered Agent
You will need to appoint an Iowa registered agent that lives or has offices in the state before you can submit your Foreign Profit Corporation Registration Statement. Your registered agent will accept important legal mail on behalf of your business. Since you’re filing from out of state, it may be easier to hire a registered agent that can accept any legal mail and get it to you fast. Northwest offers registered agent service in Iowa that makes sure you don’t miss important mailings and compliance deadlines.
3. Start Your Business Identity
Once your business is legal in the new state, you’ll want to be ready to make sales. Forming your business identity, or the way you present yourself to your potential clients, can prepare customers for your upcoming products and services.
Maybe you’ve never started getting your business out there. Now’s a great chance to start a business website or get a custom business email address.
Maybe you already have a digital presence, but now you want to make it easier for out-of-state people to find you, and start building awareness and a trustworthy reputation in your new territory. Consider getting a phone service that has the local area code or a local business address to use on documents where possible. Either way, make sure your business has a way to market itself in the new state, especially if you are not opening a brick-and-mortar.
4. Get Certificate of Existence
Along with your Iowa Foreign Profit Corporation Registration Statement, you’ll need to attach a certificate of existence or good standing from your corporation’s formation state. The certificate of existence you submit to Iowa must be no more than 90 days old.
5. Submit Foreign Profit Corporation Registration Statement
To submit your Iowa Foreign Profit Corporation Registration Statement, you’ll need to include a certificate of existence from your home state and the $100 filing fee.
Your form should include the following information:
- Corporation name or reservation number
- Name and address of person filing
- Formation state
- Incorporation date and duration
- Valid email
- Mailing address of principal office
- Registered agent address and name
- Names and addresses of directors and officers
You can file your application online, by mail, in person, or fax.
Online:
Mail or In Person:
Secretary of State
Business Services Division
Lucas Building, 1st Floor
Des Moines, IA 50319
Fax:
(515) 242-5953
Iowa accepts foreign corporation filings by mail, online, fax, or in person. Processing times depend on the method of filing.
- Online: Iowa will process online filings in about 1-2 business days.
- Mail: The state takes 7-10 business days to process mailed filings, but you’ll need to factor in mail times.
- In Person: In person filings are accepted by Iowa, and processed in about 5-7 business days.
- Fax: Iowa processes faxed filings in about 5-7 business days.
6. File Iowa Reports & Taxes
Your foreign corporation will now have Iowa taxes and reports to file independent of the ones you file in your home state.
- Income Tax: Iowa corporations pay a corporate net income tax based on how much the business earns per year. Corporations making up to $100,000 are taxed at 5.5%. Those making between $100,000 and $250,000 have a 9% tax rate. Corporations whose net income exceeds $250,000 are subject to a rate of 9.8%.
- Biennial Report: Iowa Biennial Report is a filing you must submit every other year just like every other Iowa corporation. This report, sometimes called an annual report when filed annually, is for updating information on the corporation’s principal address and the names and addresses of the corporation’s president, secretary, and other members.
Northwest Can Register Your Iowa Foreign Corporation
If doing things on your own sounds overwhelming, boring, or generally like not a good use of your time, we’re ready to help. Our foreign qualification package is $225 + Iowa fees. This includes:
- Registering your business as an Iowa Foreign Corporation. We’ll file your paperwork and let you know when it’s approved.
- Serving as your business’ Iowa Registered Agent. We can be your RA in as many states as you want to expand into.
- Launching your business identity. We’ll get you a digital presence, including a business email address, phone service, and mail forwarding. Plus, we’ll put together a custom website with a domain, web hosting, and security in place. These will all be free for 90 days. After that, most services are $9/month.
- Sending reminders for your Iowa annual report. We can even file this for you. We’ll send you a reminder about the report 90 days before they’re due, and you can either have us file for you or opt out of the service.
Iowa Foreign Corporation FAQs
To amend your Iowa Foreign Registration Statement, you’ll file the Amended Foreign Registration Statement. The fee for this form is $100. You will also need to attach a certificate of existence from your corporation’s formation state.
Iowa’s state statutes don’t define what counts as doing business in the state, but according to the Iowa Department of Revenue, a foreign LLC with a physical presence in Iowa, such as an office or storefront, must collect sales tax and register with the Secretary of State.
For more information, check out our resource on what it means to do business in another state.
A verification certificate and a filed copy of your application will be returned to you by mail.
No.
The Chairman of the Board, an officer, or an incorporator must sign the application form.
County filing or publication is not necessary for foreign corporations, unless specifically required by the county in which your registered agent resides.
Yes! We offer a comprehensive foreign qualification package that’s only $225 + state fees. With our package, you can also add additional services, like premium mail forwarding, trademark registration, and more.